Pressure-retaining valve



Nov.,1s, 1 24. 1,516,000

E. L. CLARK PRESSURE RETAINING VALVE Filed June 20. 1923 Patented Nov. 18, 1924.

EDDY L'. CLARK, OF WEST PITTSTONJPENNSYLVANIA.

eanssuananmmme VALVE.

' Application fi-lfed Jim-e20, 1923, Serial no. 646,50Y.

To all 11 750m- 276' may concem Be it known that I; EDDY L. Gnnnn', a citizen of the: United States, and resident of West Pittston, in the county of Lu-zerne and State of" li"ennsylv-ania5- have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure-Retaining Valves, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to valves, having reference more particularly to: pressure res taining valves for use in connection. with the air brake systems of.v railroad cars.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device of' simple, durable and eflicient construction having a valve element which is so constructed and mounted inre'lation to the inlet and: vent ports-as to perform, in addition to the fiun'ction' of an adjustable pressure retaining valve, the office ofanexhaust valve for the train pipe to provide a structure whereof the valve element will efieotually maintain its seat under varying conditions-of service, and to provide a structure whereof the members are readily removable and replaceable as occasion may require.

l/Vith these and other objects in view my invention comprises novel features at con struction and combinations of parts: which will be hereinafter descuibed and claimed In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a valve embodying a preferred form of my inven ti'on.

Fig; 2 is 'a sid'eelevation of the valve;

Fig: 3fis-=a war tic al section thereof, on; the line 3-3of Fig.2. V

Fig; e is a similar'vi'ew showingthevalve in sealing relation lEO thB-LlHJEi', port.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a hollow body open at its upper end and formed with an integral bottom portion having a central inlet-port 12 in commune cation with a depending neck to which is connected the train pipe 14 extending from the brake cylinder. The lower wall of the body 'is'provided above theyin'let post with an annular" flange 16' having cone cave bearing surface constituting valve seat. The body wall is also"v provided; abovethe valve" seat with a vent: port 15; and. the upper'endof thebudy is intemahy threaded to receive a centrally" perforated scnew head 17. i I

l he interioir' of the body 10' constitutes a valvechamber within which is contained a movable valve element comprising, in the present instance, an inverted cup shaped flan-ge ."I hisflange is so disposed that the bottom of the ball depends below it and nearto the inlet port 12' so as to afford an air-space 22' in open communication with the inlet-port; (See Fig. 32) i 1 On the head 1 7 is a transversely extend ing projection 22? which is bored toprovide a bearing for a rotatable shaft 2d having intermediate its ends an eccentric portion 25 which, when the shaft is partially rotated, beans with a gradually varying or adjusted force upon the up-projecting end o-fthe guide stem 19. One end ofthe shaft is provided with a suitable handle 26 whereby the shaft can be readily turned in a manner to cause the eccentric to bear against and exert more or less pressure, as desired, upon the stem, and; thus force and maintain the ball with corresponding pressure against its annular seat. Theend of the projection 23 adjacent the handle is en: larged, as tit-27, and the enlargement is pro vided on its outer face; with. a. series of spaced-apart sockets 28, and. the handle is provided: with a; springebacked locking member, such as the metal; bail, 29, positioned to register with one or another; of the sockets when the handle is'partially turned, andth'erebv temporarily to lock the; handle, together with its shaft, in a puedetenmined position ot'adjustment.

The 1 cor-operative. arrangement oi the parts just described is-such that when the handle is in its depending, or zero, position, the eccentric is slightly spacedfrom; the: top; of the stem 19 and thevalve ball 21 rests upon theannular flange, thus permittingthe air under pressure from the trainpipeto flow through: the inlet p'ont into the space: 22below such hall in a manner to naise the valve from its" seat and thus. permit. the, air to enter. the upper part of: the valve. chamber and to. escape theme: by way of the vent pent. 1 5; If the" handle be turned to the left until the member 29 engages one or tion between the inlet port and the vented portion of. the chamber. hen the pressure of the eccentric is fully exerted upon the stem the valve ball. is depressed with the maximum resistance upon the inlet port, as

F seen in Fig. 41.

It will be seen that the valve construction hereinbefore described obviates the use of a separate valve device for primarily releasing the air from the brake cylinder and yet efficiently performs the function of an adjustable pressure retaining valve. Further that when the valve is held'on its seat by the action of the eccentric the ball 21 maintains its effective sealing position not only when the pressure to the valve chamber is cut off but also when the valve is subjected to severe vibrations, or is set at various angles. Moreover, the annular valve seat affords for the lower portion of the ball 21 a continuous lateral support that prevents undue distortion of the ball when it is under the maximum sealing pressure.

The various parts of my improved valve can be readilyassembled and can be as readily separated and reassembled for repairs or replacement.

It is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to the specific details disclosed, as the construction may be modified Within the principle of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. The combination with a valve case having an inlet port, a valve seat spaced above said port, and a vent port above said seat, of

a valve element having a resilient sealing portion supported on said seat to afford an open air space between the inlet port and such sealing portion and yet permit said portion to be forced against its elasticity into sealing relation with said port, and means for applying adjusted pressure upon said valve element.

2. The combination with a valve case having an inlet port, a valve seat spaced above said port, and a vent port above said seat, of a valve element having a sealing portion supported on said seat to afford an open air space between the inlet port and such sealing portion, and means to permit free inde pendent upward inm'e'u'ient of said valve element when it is seated, and yet operative to exert an adjusted pressure upon said element.

3. The combination with a valve case having an inlet port, an annular seat spaced above said port, and a vent port above said seat, of a valve element having a convex sealing portion of elastic substance supported on said seat and above the inlet port to afiord an open air space between the inlet port and the sealing portion, and means for applying adjusted pressure upon said valve element.

4. The combination with a valve case having an inlet port, an annular seat spaced above said port, and a vent port above said seat, of a valve element having a convex sealing portion of elastic substance support ed on said seat and above the inlet port to afford an open air space between the inlet port and the sealing portion, and means for applying adjusted pressure upon said valve element to force the sealing portion thereof into closing relation to the inlet port.

5. The combination with a valve case having an inlet port, an annular seat spaced above said port, and a vent port above said seat, of a valve element comprising a movable supporting member and a sealing body carried by said member and having a convex portion supported on said seat and above the inlet port to afford an open air space between the inlet port and the sealing portion, and means for applying adjusted pressure upon the said supporting member.

6. The combination with a valve case hav ing an inlet port, an annular seat spaced above said port, and a vent port above said seat, of a valve element comprising a supporting member, a guide stem thereon extending into a perforation in the top of the valve case, and a sealing body carried by said member and having a convex portion supported on said seat and above the inlet port to afford an open air space between the inlet port and the sealing portion, and means for applying adjusted pressure upon the said supporting member.

7. The combination with a valve case having an inlet port, a valve seat spaced above said port, and a vent port above said seat, of a valve element comprising a supporting member, a guide stem thereon extending into a perforation in the top of the valve case, and a sealing body carried by said member and having a convex portion supported on said seat and above the inlet port to afford an open air space between the inlet port and the sealing portion, and a manually operative valve adjusting member rotatably mounted on said case in posi tion to bear upon said stem.

8. The combination with a valve case having an inlet port, an annular seat spaced above said port, and a vent port above said ill) seat, of: a valve element comprising a sup porting member, a guide stem thereon extending into a perforation in the top of the valve case, and a sealing body carried by said member and having a convex portion supported on said seat and above the inlet port to afford an open air space between the inlet port and the sealing portion, a manually operative eccentric member rotatably mounted on said case in position to bear 10 zerne and State of Pennsylvania, this 18th 15 day 01 June, A. D. 1928.

EDDY L. CLARK. 

